(a) the number of Public Call Offices (PCOs) working in Uttar Pradesh;
(b) the urban and rural area-wise break up thereof;
(c) whether most of the PCOs remain non-functional particularly in the Mishrikh District in the State;
(d) if so, the reasons therefor; and
(e) the concrete measures taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to remedy the situation?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (DR. SHAKEEL AHMAD )
(a) Sir, a total of 1,43,193 Public Call Offices (PCOs) are working in Uttar Pradesh as on 30.11.2004.
(b) The urban and rural area-wise break-up of PCOs is as under:-
(i) Urban 1,06,294
(ii) Rural 36,899
(i) Fault in MARR system due to technology failure.
(ii) Fault in Fixed Wireless Terminals (FWTs).
(e) The following measures are purposed to be taken:
(i) All the MARR VPTs are purposed to be replaced by WLL, progressively.
(ii) Faulty FWTs are proposed to be repaired/replaced by new FWTs progressively.